jyu4 lou6魚露鱼露
Jyutpingjyu4 lou6
Yaleyùh louh
Definition
Fish sauce; a seasoning made from fermented fish juice and salt.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Fish sauce is a staple seasoning in Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly Thai and Vietnamese dishes, which are very popular in Hong Kong. It provides a distinct umami depth that salt alone cannot replicate. While it is pungent in its raw state, it mellows significantly when cooked into a dish.
Measure word
zeon1樽jēunExamples
You must add a little fish sauce when cooking Thai food for it to taste right.
Do you still have any fish sauce at home?
Related words
Common mistake
Beginners often mistake it for soy sauce due to the similar dark liquid appearance, but the flavor profile is vastly different and much saltier. Always use it sparingly as a seasoning rather than a base liquid.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
